Wawrinka won the title with a forehand

However, Wawrinka broke Nadal again and he served it out authoritatively, winning the title with a forehand.

Nadal became the first man to defeat the top two seeds at a Grand Slam since Sergi Bruguera at the 1993 French Open. The Spaniard has had injury problems in the past in Melbourne.

He missed the 2006 and 2013 editions through injury, had to retire injured in his quarter-final against Andy Murray in 2010, and in 2011 he was hit by a muscle strain during his quarter-final defeat to David Ferrer.

Image: Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates winning championship point in his men's final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain Photographs: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images